Vehicle



Sept. 1, 1936. 'J. E. NORMAN VEHICLE Filed April 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 p J. E. NORMAN 2,052,645

VEHICLE v Filed April so, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A .5 4 O I I? L/ /7 4 D l I Patented Sept. 1, 1936 Fen-TENT OFFICE VEHICLE James E. Norman, Donna, Tex. Application April 30, 1936, Serial No. 77,176

6 Claims. ((31.280-3355) This invention relates to a vehicle and has particular' relation to a trailer steering apparatus,

An object of the invention is to provide, means for connecting a trailer to a draft vehicle, said connecting means also including means for controlling the movements of the trailer. 7

3 A prime object of the invention is to provide a' trailer hitch and steering device by the useof which the trailer may be steered rearwardly in the same direction as the rearward movement of therdraft vehicle.

The invention comprehends a steering mechanism which is operative to control the steering of the trailer wheels upon rearward movement of the trailer but which is automatically locked upon forward movement of the draft vehicle an trailer.

.It is a further object of the invention to provide a trailer hitch and steering mechanism which .is of very simple construction, which is positive and accurate in operation, which is automatically actuated into active and inactive positions and .which" may be cheaply constructed and readily installed and repaired. .With the above and other objectsin view the invention has particular relation to certain novel featuresof construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

- Figure 1 shows a plan view of a trailer equipped with the hitch and steering mechanism and shown connected to a draft vehicle.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the trailer taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a bottom plan View of the trailer showing the steering mechanism locked or in inactive position, and

Figure 4 shows a bottom plan view showing the steering mechanism unlocked, or in active position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates the trailer framework which may be of any selected construction and which is mounted in any preferred manner on the axle 2, Pivotally connected to the ends of the axle to swing on vertical axes are the wheel spindles 3, 3 on which the trailer wheels 4, 4 are mounted to rotate. The wheel spindles have the forwardly extended steering arms 5, 5 rigidly connected thereto. A transverse tie rod 6 has its ends pivotally connected to the forward ends of the arms 5. There is a draft bar I whose forward end is pivotally connected to the draft yoke 8, which'in turn may be connected in any suitable manner to the rear end of the draft vehicle. As shown, the yoke is clamped to the rear bumper 9 by the end clamps I0, ID. This draft bar 1 is mounted for limited longitudinal movement relative to the trailer frame I. As shown itsirear end is provided with a longitudinal slot .I I and a suitable retaining means is provided for controlling and limiting the range of movement of the draft bar. shown a bolt I2 is fitted through the slot II. and through the axle 2 or. other suitable part of the framework, said bolt having the usual retaining head thereon. A bearing I3'is provided on the framework I through which theLdIaft bar 1 works and which confines it to a. longitudinal movement relative to the trailer "framework I.

of the-steering bar I4 is provided with a notch I'I andwith the rearwardly flared guides I8 and depending from the steering bar I there is a stud I 9 adapted to cooperate with said notch in a mannerhereinafter explained. The forward end of the steering bar I4 is also provided with a notch 20 and has the forwardly flared guides 2|, 2 I.

Rigidly anchored to the draft yoke 8 and extending rearwardly therefrom there is a steering arm 22 having the upwardly extended stud 23 adapted to cooperate with the notch 20 as hereinafter explained.

Upon forward movement of the draft vehicle the draft bar I is in its forward position, the rear end of the slot I I engaging the bolt I2 and the stud I9, having been guided by the guides I8 into the notch I1 and engaging the rear end of the draft bar I. The stud 23 will move forwardly with the draft yoke 8, thus unseating the stud from the notch 20, allowing free pivotal movement of the draft yoke without affecting the movement of the steering bar I4, said steering bar being at this time locked against movement by the stud I9. The steering mechanism of the trailer wheels will be thereby locked or inactive so that the trailer will readily follow the forward course of the draft vehicle ahead in the usual way.

' unseating the stud l9 from the notch l1. This will unlock the trailer steering mechanism. The steering bar 1515 now in operative connection with the draft yoke 8 and is responsive to the movements of the draft vehicle.

ment of the draft vehicle, as its course is changed,

the steering bar l4 will operate to correspondingly guide the trailer wheels 4 in the'desired direc-.- tion to the end that the trailer willbe' guided along the intended course t'oibe'followed by the draft vehicle during its movement; I The drawings and description disclose 'hat is now considered to be apreferred form of the invention by way of. illustration .only, while the broad principle of. :the invention will .be defined by the appended claims;

WhatIclaim is: '5 z 1...A trailer. hitch and steering apparatus comprising a draft bar,.means for connecting the forward end of the bar to a draft vehicle, means movable transversely of the vehicle and connected to and adapted to guide the trailer wheels, means for locking the. guideimeans .in-inactive position upon forward movement of the draft vehicle and for releasing the. guide. means upon rearward movement of the draft vehicle.v V

2. A trailer hitchand steering. apparatus comprising a draft .bar,..-means-for connecting the movement of the draft vehicle, andmeans for controlling the movements of the guide means in accordance with the rearwardmovements of .the

draft vehicle.v r 3. A trailer hitch, a steering apparatus comprising a longitudinally shiftable draft member mounted on the trailer frame, means for connecting said member to 'a draft vehicle, means on the trailer connected to, andadapted to guide, the trailer wheels, means for lockingthe guide means in inactive position upon forward movement of Upon rearward move- 1 7 means operative upon rearward movement of the vehicle and effective to actuate the guide 7., means to steer the trailer wheels in harmony with the draft vehicle and draft member .and for releasing the guide means upon rearward movement of the draft vehicle and draft' member.

4. A trailer hitch,'a steering apparatus comprising a longitudinally shiftable draft member mounted on the trailer frame, means for connecting said member to a draft vehicle, means on the trailer connected to, and adapted to guide, the trailer wheels, means for locking the guide means in inactive position upon forward movement of the draft vehicle and draft member and for releasing the guide means upon rearward movement of the draft vehicle and draft member and the rearward movement of thejdraft vehicle.

prising a draft bar, means for connecting the'forward end of the bar to a draft vehicle, means for connecting said bar to a trailer.:to allow a limited longitudinal movement of the barirelative to the trailer, means on the trailer connectedto, and adapted to guide the trailer wheels, meansion the bar for locking the guide. means in inactive positionupon forward movement of the draft vehicle and for releasing the guide means upon 5. A trailer hitch and steering apparatus com: 7

rearward movement of the draft vehicleand means operativeupon such rearward movement to effect the steering movements of the trailer wheels in accordance with variations in the rearward movement of the draft vehicle. V

6. A trailer hitch and steering apparatus for steering a trailerhaving wheel spindle's'mounted to pivot on vertical axes and comprising a longitudinally shiftable draft bar .mounted on the trailer frame, means for connecting said bari-to a draft vehicle, a'tra'nsversely shiftable tie:rod

connected to' the wheel spindles, .a' pivotally mounted steering bar, a link for connecting the ment upon rearward movement of the draft vehicle and means operatively connecting said connecting means with the steering bar, when the I I latter is released, whereby the wheel steering mechanism will be actuated, upon rearward movement of the draft vehicle, to guide the steering wheels of the trailer in accordance with the rearward movements of the draft vehicle. JAMES E. NORMAN. 

